Deerfield had their hands full today with an excellent Taft squad who is talented and very-well coached. Eager to protect their home field, Big Green came out of the gates with great energy and a will to win. The script flipped quickly though and Taft showed why they have been one of the best clubs in the league over the past decade. They were well organized, experienced, and moved the ball extremely well, ultimately breaking through just 12 minutes in to the game to make it 1-0 Taft. Not to be intimidated, Deerfield responded just 20 seconds later with another beautiful ball out of the back from Kai Darrell, flicked on by Stevie Walsh to a streaking Owen Tymchuk who unleashed an incredible left-footed strike from outside the box to tie the game at one. Taft would strike again about ten minutes later on a corner kick and lost mark from Deerfield’s defense making it 2-1. Once again, Big Green showed their grit and resiliency, fighting back to tie the game at two with just eight minutes left in the first half. Jeffry Kamil played an incredible free kick over Taft’s back line and Stevie Walsh was there to finish a gorgeous header, top shelf, to make it 2-2. That’s how the first half would finish. The second half saw some great play and good chances from both sides. Taft continued their solid combination play in the offensive third, but Kai Darrell and Deerfield’s back line of Ralph Vogel, Zach Li, Cooper Johnson, and Barack Mwesigwa, turned in an extraordinary effort and kept Taft off the scoreboard in the second half. Big Green had a few excellent chances in the closing minutes of the game, but ultimately the match would finish at 2-2. It was a great test for Deerfield and a well-earned result. Next up will be a trip down to Kent on Saturday.